Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

To some, the life of Fushiguro Megumi did not seem glamorous at all. His childhood had been confusing and empty, and during teenagehood he gained a sense of morals that made him angry and lashed out at those he felt deserved it. And sometimes at those who didn’t, who simply got caught in the crossfire. 

Megumi hadn’t really planned to turn his life around as a young adult or make it much different, because at the end of the day, he knew that he had close to no control over how life would turn out. As a kid looking forward, adulthood seemed full of choices and possibilities. Thousands of winding paths that lead to different outcomes. It was all your choice -  which job you got, where you moved, who you married, how you honed your skills. 

It was a mirage, an empty promise of autonomy. Megumi never made the choices to be better, to be good, to be valuable. He simply floated like a leaf in a river, caught in the current. None of the choices he had ever made felt impactful. 

People in his life had shown up and left, at their own whims. His step-sister Tsumiki had shown up. His scumbag of a dad had left. Satoru Gojo showed up. And then Tsumiki left. Not by choice, because free will wasn’t truly real in a world that hurt, killed and stole people like Tsumiki. The doctors had said “If she fights hard enough, she will make it”, as Tsumiki laid unconscious in the hospital bed. Maybe if the world listened to Tsumiki, she wouldn’t have become a victim to it. So Megumi simply stared at his sister, staying quiet. Tsumiki was strong. The strongest person Megumi had known. So when months had passed, and the hospital could no longer manage to keep her alive, Megumi realized that it was all a lie. 

If true, free will existed, then Tsumiki wouldn’t have been lowered six feet underground in a casket before adulthood.

Despite the sorrow and emptiness her death brought, two years later Fushiguro Megumi seemed alright. His life was not glamorous, but he managed. He was a good student. He had friends. He had the remains of a somewhat… weird found-family structure. He worked a part-time job. His rented studio apartment was fine. It seemed like he was on a good path. But he was still a leaf caught in a current, always being guided by others. 

Perhaps it was because of the rough beginnings of his life, that others felt the need to take care of him, to make the tough decisions for him, and shove him in the direction of a good life. 

Megumi picked at the corner of his pillow, deep in thought. 

… It was a good thing, wasn’t it? He should be grateful. Megumi wasn’t lazy, and he worked for his own results, but without people like Satoru, Megumi wouldn’t even have had the chance to do his best. So he was content. 

As content as one could get, feeling devoid of autonomy. 

His phone started vibrating on the nightstand next to him, followed by a generic ringtone. 

Megumi picked it up, seeing Satoru’s name light up the screen.

“Hello?” he groggily answered. 

“Morning sunshine~” 

Megumi groaned. There was just something obnoxious about so much positivity at 8 in the morning on a Saturday. 

“What do you want?” 

“No need to be so hostile, Megumi~ I just wanted to let you know I’m going on a business trip. It’s kind of last minute, but I’ll be back in a flash, probably Sunday next week. My fridge is full, and you have a key so you’re welcome to stay while I’m gone.” 

“... Okay.”

“Don’t get too lonely, ‘kay?” Satoru teased.

Megumi’s brow twitched. “I can manage.” 

He did not need Satoru’s supervision or company to get by. He was a grown adult. And besides, as a kid he got used to being left alone. But perhaps that was why Megumi felt his heart sink a little as they ended the call, and his apartment grew silent.

Megumi sighed, and leaned back to look at the ceiling. 

Another day. 

Another routine. 

Another fake promise of doing something impactful. 

Megumi skillfully balanced the serving tray full of dirty dishes in his hand, with another stack on his arm. The Shadow Garden was bustling, as it always was on weekend nights. It was a fairly luxurious place, so their customers usually wore dresses and suits. Megumi himself wore a suit, with an elegant, navy-blue floral patterned vest and a golden nametag on his chest. At first, Megumi was nervous about the job. Lots of important people visited, and some, if not most, were rude and demanding in some way. But the job had good pay, better than most waitering jobs he had tried before, and his colleagues were nice. Megumi knew how to swallow his pride when it came to customer service through years of experience, so Megumi was content with that as well. 

After delivering the dirty dishes, Megumi wiped his brow from the slight sweat that had accumulated. He quickly checked a nearby mirror, to make sure his hair looked presentable. Miraculously, he didn’t look too bothered. His hair wasn’t plastered to his skin, and if anything, the sheen gave him a healthy glow. Looking proper in a job and place like this, was particularly important to the image of the restaurant, and for customers to tip generously. Content with his look, Megumi went back to work. 

“Oi! Fushiguro!” He heard someone call. Megumi turned around, until his gaze landed on a familiar figure. 

Kiyotaka Ijichi, one of his college professors, was sitting at a large table, waving him over. His face was flushed, and he was laughing and smiling like Megumi had never seen before. He was obviously drunk, and the sight was very different from the normally serious and responsible professor Megumi knew him as. 

“Professor,” Megumi said, and bowed his head slightly after approaching the table while clutching his serving tray.

Kiyotaka beamed at him, and addressed the rest of the crowd around the table. 

“This young, fine man is Fushiguro Megumi, my dear student. Top of his class, and quite a hard worker. I did not know you worked here, do you enjoy it?” 

Megumi nodded. “Yes, very much. It’s a nice place.”

“Is being as beautiful as you a requirement for the job?” One of the men around the table asked, and when Megumi looked at him, he was taken aback in surprise. 

The others chuckled at the man’s flirtatious comment, but Megumi simply stared wide-eyed at him. His voice had not been the same, but his looks...  He looked so much like Yuuji. It was uncanny, except for the exotic tattoos that covered his face. 

His professor picked up on Megumi’s expression, as Yuuji was also a student in his class. 

“Ah, let me introduce you, this is Yuuji’s older brother, Ryomen Sukuna. They’re more different than you’d think,” Kiyotaka said. 

Megumi closed his mouth tightly, suddenly aware of his inappropriate expression. 

“Oh, my apologies,” he uttered, flustered. “Yuuji is a close friend. I didn’t realize he had a brother.” 

Sukuna, who casually leaned on the table like he owned the place, smirked, showing a sliver of teeth. “He doesn’t talk about me? I guess that’s to be expected. As your professor states, we are more different than you’d think.” 

Megumi was intrigued. At first the resemblance was striking, with the dusty pink hair and similar face structure, but the more he glanced at Sukuna, the more differences he found. The biggest difference was perhaps the way they carried themselves. Megumi had always compared Yuuji to an overexcited puppy in his mind, eyes big and bright and full of energy. He knew nothing of Ryomen Sukuna, but from the way he narrowed his eyes, smiled slightly but with an underlying, almost threatening emotion behind it Megumi could not place, he exuded a very specific sort of energy.

He was intimidating. Nothing like Yuuji.

Their eye contact had lasted for too long and part of Megumi was worried he’d suddenly explode or something looking at him any longer, so he tore his eyes away. 

“So, um, can I get you gentlemen anything? Something to drink and eat?” 

Judging from the table already full of glasses and empty bottles, Megumi guessed they were done with eating. The men ordered more drinks, keeping it going.

The rest of the night was more exhausting than Megumi had anticipated. He was no longer fresh in the job, so he gained more responsibilities, and was on closing duty as well. It was well past midnight, and they had stopped serving what seemed like ages ago. The moody lighting was blown out by aggressive ceiling light, signaling for customers to start leaving. 

There were not many customers still lingering. His professor’s table was starting to empty, while Yuuji’s brother was still there. 

In addition, Megumi’s headache for the night in the form of a couple of rowdy customers, had also not left. Megumi had seen them before and dealt with them before as well. They were rich and entitled, and didn’t care about closing hours. 

“It’s getting late,” Megumi commented, trying to nudge them to leave in the most respectful way possible. “I hope your night has been enjoyable,” he said, with a smile he hoped seemed genuine. 

“Oh it would be just perfect if you’d come home with me, Megumi~” one of the men said, reading his nametag and drawing out his name drunkenly.

Megumi cringed inside, but didn’t let his face falter. “No can do. It’s time for you to head home so I can close up,” he said.  

But the man wouldn’t go so easily, and grabbed Megumi’s arm rather roughly. Megumi froze for a split second, before trying to yank his arm away, but the grip was too painful.

“Let go please,” he urged, feeling his stress and anxiety rise quickly. Megumi wasn’t weak, but being outnumbered, perhaps even more dangerously by drunk men losing their critical thinking, could lead to a very bad situation. 

“Oh come ooon, why won’t you show me a good time, huh? Don’t tell me a pretty boy like you isn’t into men?” He asked, and his other hand settled on Megumi’s waist, slowly sliding down. 

Megumi’s heart hammered in his chest, the anxiety of choosing whether to give in to his fight or flight instinct clouding his mind.

But Megumi didn’t have to make a choice. 

A hand with black tattoos peeking out under a pulled up white shirt, reached towards the guy, and grabbed his shirt roughly. The man instantly let go of Megumi, but the ghost of his touch still lingered, and Megumi wondered if it would bruise. 

Megumi recognized Sukuna as he kept pulling on the man’s shirt, not letting go. Instead, his grip tightened, the material digging into the man’s throat. 

“What makes you think you can go around grabbing young waiters without their consent, huh? Pig.” 

The man only answered with a choked screech. His other drunk friends started freaking out and ran for the exit. 

Megumi could only stare in shock as Sukuna kept holding him up, making the man struggle to get on his feet properly, all while slowly being choked. 

“St-stop,” Megumi finally said, realizing it could end very badly. 

Sukuna glanced at him, and Megumi saw his eyes up close, how they were a brown, almost blood-red shade, and yet, so icy cold. If Megumi didn’t know any better, it could be the eyes of a cold-blooded murderer. 

The hold on the man’s shirt was released, and he went falling to the floor into a coughing mess. He scrambled onto his feet, stumbling several times, before following his friends in a hurry. 

Sukuna chuckled slightly, making Megumi frown even more. He was laughing?! 

“You alright, kid?” Sukuna asked, meeting his eyes before glancing down at his arm. 

Megumi instinctively grabbed it. “Yeah,” he answered, almost breathlessly. 

His heart was still pumping quickly, adrenaline filling his veins. 

“Men are disgusting aren’t they,” Sukuna sighed. He said it as if he himself hadn’t made uncalled for flirtatious comments to Megumi earlier that night.

Megumi bit his lip in annoyance. “Yes. Unnecessarily violent too.” 

Sukuna had nearly killed that man. Yes, he had made Megumi extremely uncomfortable, but it’s not something you killed someone over. Was this guy seriously Itadori Yuuji’s brother? The one person Megumi knew were least likely to even hurt a fly? 

His jab at Sukuna apparently amused him, as the smirk returned. “You seem like an interesting guy, Fushiguro Megumi… Say, isn’t college life and working part-time quite boring?” 

Megumi frowned. “It’s fine. What else would I do?” 

Wasn’t this guy friends with his professor? Why would he think like that? 

Sukuna grinned, and fished something out of his pocket. He handed Megumi a card. 

“This can grant you access to The Domain. It’s my club. Very popular, even amongst college kids. To those exclusive enough to get in, that is. Yuuji and I don’t talk much or see eye to eye most of the time, but… Any friend of my brother is a friend of mine. So when you need a break from this-” 

Sukuna waved his arms, gesturing to the restaurant. 

“- This extremely boring life, come give me a visit. And wear something… Revealing,” He said while grinning, showing his canines.

Before Megumi could react or protest, Sukuna was already on his way out.

Megumi was left alone in the middle of the restaurant, holding Sukuna’s card. It was black and shiny, Sukuna’s name written in white along with a phone number. In the corner of the card there was a white shape. The logo of the nightclub, Megumi presumed. While looking at it, Megumi realized it looked like Sukuna’s forehead tattoo. 

Megumi shook his head in disbelief. Why would he go to a club? He wasn’t that kind of person. They probably just sold overpriced drinks, and people probably took drugs in the bathrooms. It wasn’t Megumi’s scene.

As the adrenaline gradually disappeared, Megumi felt the effects of the day hit him. And he still had to close up. 

He just needed some goddamn sleep, and that was all. 

It was Monday, and Megumi was in Kiyotaka’s class, who was going off track about a very specific subject in ancient Greece as he always did when he got overly excited. Otherwise, he was quite professional, upholding good routines with his teaching. All the more reason why Megumi still didn’t understand his relation to Sukuna. He had not seemed like someone into academia, and although Megumi didn’t know much about his professor outside of class, he still didn’t peg him for someone who hung out with nightclub owners. 

Maybe it’s because he saw himself in his professor, someone usually calm and proper, who simply had a passion for learning. Megumi didn’t do things that weren’t expected of him, and no one expected him to go to an expensive nightclub and party with someone like Ryomen Sukuna. 

He saw the door to the auditorium open, and Idatori Yuuji came in, late for class. Nothing new. Yuuji jogged up the stairs towards Megumi, and slumped down in the seat next to him. 

“Did I miss something?” Yuuji whispered. 

Megumi shook his head. “Not really.” 

Yuuji pulled out his notebook, and started scribbling down notes as the professor went on with his presentation. 

Megumi himself struggled to focus. He hadn’t told Yuuji about what happened at the restaurant yet, or that he met his brother. Yet he couldn’t stop thinking about it, and he still had Sukuna's business card, even though he wouldn’t go to his club. 

He’d ask Yuuji about him during lunch. 

Megumi and Yuuji always ate lunch with Nobara Kugisaki, usually outside unless it was raining. The three of them had become friends in high school, and ended up going to the same college. Megumi wasn’t someone who made friends easily. He was respectful and kind, but lacked the extroverted energies that both Yuuji and Nobara seemed to emit. So it didn’t feel like it was Megumi who had made friends with them, more like they claimed Megumi as their friend, and he just went along with it at first. Through the years however, it’s safe to say he started to care for them, and considered them his closest friends. 

The weather was warm as summer was approaching, and Megumi felt a welcome breeze tickle his skin. It made him want to nap, if he didn’t have things on his mind. 

“How come you didn’t tell me you have a brother?” Megumi asked, deciding to just go for it. If he hit a nerve, he would apologize. 

Yuuji didn’t seem to react much. “Huh… Dunno.” 

“I recall you mentioning it once to me. But you never talk about him,” Kugisaki said, as she closed her eyes and took in the sun. 

“Well, we don’t talk, really. He’s older, moved out when I was pretty young… My grandpa never mentions him either.” 

So he was someone estranged from his family, Megumi thought. 

“Did you meet him or something?” Yuuji asked. 

“He showed up at the restaurant. With professor Kiyotaka actually, and others I didn’t recognize.” 

Megumi watched as Yuuji’s eyes widened in realization. “Ooh! Yeah, I forgot, Sukuna is a co-owner of this new museum they’re making in town. Supposedly it mainly showcases relics from ancient Greece and Rome.” 

“I thought he owned the-”

What was the name

 “-Domain?” Megumi asked. 

“He owns it all. Rich fuck,” Yuuji teased, but smiled anyway. He seemed to have at least some form of respect for his brother. “He’s worked hard for it.”

However, his smile fell. “I just wish he’d stop and realize money and fame is not what’s most important in life, so that it wouldn’t be at the expense of his family or… you know. The law.” 

Megumi’s ears perked up. “The law?” 

“Shit, your brother’s a criminal?” Kugisaki asked, smiling as she said it. Of course she would find that interesting, she was wilder than Megumi and Yuuji combined. 

Yuuji simply sighed and nodded. “I don’t exactly know what he’s been doing, but there is definitely something going on. I just hope it’s just like… Financial shit and not something serious. Even if grandpa doesn’t talk to him anymore, I know he still cares about him, y’know?” 

Sukuna’s demeanor and actions that night at the restaurant suddenly seemed to make a bit more sense. This guy wasn’t just a business owner, but there were shadier things going on underneath the surface.

There had been no remorse in his eyes as he kept clutching the creep’s shirt to the point where it choked him. 

It was appalling, that disregard of human life, yet… He guy had hurt Megumi, he even got a stupid bruise because of it. He could’ve, probably would’ve, done worse to him if he hadn’t been stopped… Was he seriously trying to justify it?  

Megumi rubbed his forehead. He had better morals than that.

The rest of the week went by much like every week of Megumi’s life. He stuck to his routine, studied in his free time despite not really needing to, and read novels when he was tired of that. He had a few shifts at the restaurant, and afterwards he would go to Satoru’s place and make himself some food and put on the TV to fill the quiet space with at least some form of company. 

Megumi was fine by himself. He could’ve hung out with Yuuji or Nobara, or someone else for that matter, but he liked quiet nights. He liked the familiarity of Satoru’s apartment, even if Satoru was not there. 

Just as he thought about him, Megumi’s phone buzzed. 

Satoru was face-timing him. 

“Heeello~” Satoru called out in his usual sing-song greeting. However something was off about him. He wore his shades, but Megumi could still see dark circles underneath his eyes. 

“Hey,” Megumi said, waiting for Satoru to talk. 

“I’m glad I caught you off work.” 

“I had an early shift today,” Megumi answered, taking a bite out of some watermelon he had cut up. 

“So, doing something fun on this fine Saturday night? Or just lounging around in my apartment?” Satoru asked and smiled. 

Instead of answering, Megumi switched camera and showed the TV. 

“Boooring,” Satoru said dramatically, but with less energy than usual. “Eh, do what you like. Actually, I just wanted to let you know I’m not coming home tomorrow.”

Megumi felt a familiar pit in his stomach return. He was glad he wasn’t using the front camera because of it. Quickly he composed himself, and switched the camera back.

“Oh. How’s the trip going?” 

Satoru groaned. “It’s all work and no fun. We’re struggling to strike this very important deal, but people are being very uncooperative. Hopefully we’ll get it soon though! I wanna come home so you won’t be lonely,” he said, making a childish peace sign at him.

“I’m fine. It’s nice to get some peace and quiet, you’re always too loud,” Megumi lied. 

Satoru chuckled. “Try to do something fun, okay?” 

Megumi rolled his eyes. “I am... Having fun.” He said, sounding completely insincere. 

After their conversation ended, Megumi got sick of the background noise coming from the TV so he turned it off. The reflection of him curled up on the couch stared back at him on the black screen. 

Megumi sighed.

Now it was too quiet. And he was getting restless. 

He wasn’t lonely. Technically, he was alone right at that moment, but that did not make him lonely. 

Loneliness was something else, it was a feeling, something you felt from the pit of your stomach and- 

The minute Megumi’s lip started wobbling, he got up. 

Alright. Enough of this. 

He quickly pulled on his denim jacket and sneakers, grabbed the keys to the apartment and locked the door after him as he left. He decided to walk home, perhaps that would get rid of the restlessness he was feeling. The walk was around thirty minutes, and besides moving around in his daily life, he hadn’t really worked out in any way, shape or form in a while.

Maybe it’s what he needed.

A clear mind, and a body in action. He walked fast as his thoughts kept racing, even the fresh air was not enough to take his mind off of things. By the time he reached his apartment, his cheeks were flushed but he still felt restless.

He had to do something, to keep him from letting his anxiety consume him. Megumi hated when that happened, he hated the feeling of helplessness and confusion as his tears spilled over reasons he could not comprehend.

So he just needed to keep that from happening, and then Megumi could go about his life. Stick to his routines. Balance work and school. Sleep, eat and repeat. 

Structure, that was the key to keep staying afloat. As long as he had structure, the current could get as intense as it wanted to.

Megumi would not drown. 

And even if he took a detour… Megumi reached for the pocket on his jacket, and pulled out the shiny black card. 

Even if he took a detour, just to keep him busy, that wouldn’t tear down his structure, would it? 

The Domain was just a place after all. A club for partying. He had been to college parties before. He had gotten drunk many times before. Although, embarrassingly enough most of those times had been in high school, not college. 

Megumi’s life really had taken a one-eighty as he got older. 

He wasn’t even planning on getting drunk. He just needed someplace to be, somewhere that wasn’t a lonely apartment. Somewhere the music was loud and could overpower his own thoughts. 

“Wear something… Revealing.”

Megumi flushed at the memory coming to mind. Was that seriously the dress-code there? No way, right? Even if it was, all Megumi had were basic clothes, most of them long-sleeved and covering the entirety of his torso.

His gaze caught a garment in the very back of his closet. It looked innocent and basic. It was a long-sleeved navy blue turtleneck. He had gotten it as a present from Satoru once, who thought it fit his style, and Megumi thought so too. Until he tried it on, and realized the shirt was tight-fitting and cropped, ending just above his belly button. Because of that, Megumi had always been too embarrassed to wear it in public. 

But maybe a nightclub would be okay. They used to be dark anyway, no one would even notice. Everyone would be wasted or high and Megumi could just chill in a corner and stay unbothered. 

He quickly changed before he could talk himself down, and paired the shirt with his nicest pair of pants, some high-waisted black slacks. His belt had a small silver chain fastened to it, immediately making his outfit less business-casual and a little more edgy. 

It made him feel a little bit self-conscious, but when he looked at himself in the mirror, he didn’t look half bad. His pants being high-waisted helped cover his belly more, leaving a little more than a sliver of skin exposed. 

Megumi released a nervous breath, and nodded to his reflection. This felt better. He picked up his phone to search for The Domain’s location. Should he have texted Yuuji, and made him come with? Sukuna was his brother, so Yuuji would definitely be allowed in. Kugisaki too, she wasn’t reserved like Megumi, she’d fit right in. 

No. He didn’t need anyone right now. Or, he didn’t want to need anyone. He could handle himself. 

Perhaps it would be good for him to do something out of the ordinary, perhaps the experience would be eye-opening even, and make him grow as a person. 

The nightclub was situated in a different district than Megumi’s, so he had to take the train. It was in the same prestigious part of Tokyo as the restaurant he worked at in fact, so the commute was familiar. After getting off the train, Megumi followed the navigation on his phone while looking around him. When he arrived, there was no doubt The Domain was popular. 

The logo, same as Sukuna’s tattoo, glowed a bright red on the surface of a black building. It looked modern, however, the entrance of the club was made in a traditional japanese style. Megumi felt his motivation sink as he saw the never-ending line in front of the club. It was a Saturday night, of course there would be a long line. By the time Megumi would reach the entrance, he would’ve already run back home after changing his mind. He couldn’t stand in a line and wait deep in his own thoughts, that would ruin the whole point. 

Without getting in line Megumi kept looking. There was another door next to the entrance, but there was a bouncer in front of it. Maybe if he showed him the card… 

Megumi drew a quick breath, and walked up to the bouncer with a pep in his step, hoping it made him seem important enough to be allowed in. 

“Hi,” Megumi simply greeted as he stopped in front of the bouncer. The bouncer didn’t reply, and simply looked at Megumi with a bored expression. Megumi started fumbling in the pocket of his pants, scared that he had forgotten the card. But checking his other pocket, he found it. 

“Uh, I have this,” he explained, trying to give the card to the bouncer. He didn’t take it, instead he glanced at it. After a second, the bouncer stepped aside, and opened the door for him.

Megumi felt his heart start to beat faster. He was getting in. 

He uttered a thanks, as he slipped inside. Even though it was just the foyer, Megumi was blown away at the interior design of the club. The lighting was moody and dimmed, the only strong light coming from neon lamps in reds and greens. There were pillars, carved out and decorated like they were pulled straight from the Edo period. The floor was made of laminated wood in a deep red. 

If someone bled onto the floor, nobody would notice, Megumi thought and shivered. Just because that was a design choice, did not mean that blood all over the floor was something common in this place… He hoped. 

As Megumi went deeper into the club and the music got louder, the rest of the club was even more impressive than the foyer. There were statues in the corners, artwork on the walls, highlighted by coloured lights. It was a perfect mix of history and present day. 

The dance floor was completely packed with people. They sat lined up by the bar. Every single table there was occupied. Megumi felt self-conscious for a second, feeling like this was not a place for him. Who even were all of these people? Celebrities? Millionaires? 

After working in the restaurant, Megumi was used to being in the presence of that kind of people, but usually as their waiter. 

What was he doing here?

Blocking out the noise. 

Or rather, filling the void with noise. 

He needed something more than just thundering bass from the speakers. He went up to the bar, and ordered a shot. It burned as he gulped it down. 

The buzz could not come quick enough, and he was getting impatient. He needed to get out of his head.

“One more please-” Megumi uttered before a low, rumbling laugh next to his ear interrupted him. 

Megumi cast a glance sideways. Sukuna was standing next to him, looking down at him with a sly smirk. 

“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me your drink of choice is that nasty shit.” 

Megumi frowned. “... It’s not supposed to be particularly tasty.” 

“What a depressing way to think. If you want to enjoy the finer things in life, it’s all about taste. Why go for something vile, when bliss is right in front of your nose?” Sukuna asked, not breaking eye-contact. 

His eyes on him made Megumi squirm. It’s just the red tint to them, he told himself. Megumi didn’t let himself be so easily intimidated. Usually.

“What’s your taste? Sweet? Sour?” 

Sukuna leaned further forward on the bar, getting closer to Megumi’s level. 

“Perhaps something… Rough. Rich in flavor.” 

Megumi wasn’t even sure. Were they even talking about drinks? Still, he ended up nodding. Sukuna had a persuasive way of choosing his words. He seemed like the kind of guy who would make any answer he received into his favoured one. 

Sukuna chuckled quietly. “I’ll make you something.” 

Megumi felt like he was losing his head, and it was not from the shot. He didn’t know where to place Sukuna. He’d nearly killed a guy, but he also acted kindly, in a way. He spoke in a coarse manner, but his voice was also smooth. Megumi’s moral compass was confused. 

Much to his surprise, Sukuna actually made the drink himself. He went behind the bar, and the bartender already there gave him space to work. Megumi simply watched in silence as Sukuna worked effectively. He could not help but pay attention to Sukuna’s tattooed arms as he rolled his sleeves up. His nails were painted black. A faint feeling told Megumi they had also been painted black the weekend before. 

Sukuna had tattooed two broad, black lines black going around each wrist, almost like bracelets, or bracers that warriors used to wear as armour.  

For some reason, one that Megumi could not understand, Sukuna seemed to either want to get to know him, or do him favours. Was it because of his professor? Or was it something else?

Megumi had met people much more quiet, reserved and less intimidating than Sukuna, and yet he still seemed like much more of a mystery. 

Giving in to the intrigue, Megumi finally picked up the conversation. 

“So… You’re a business owner and a bartender. You also hang out with… Plain professors. And you have no problem nearly choking a guy,” he said. 

Sukuna glanced at him as he finished the drink. 

“So… What else do you do?” Megumi asked. Instead of answering, Sukuna slid the drink over to him. 

“Dark and Stormy,” he said. “Just like your look. Do you wear those kinds of clothes in Kiyotaka’s class? Perhaps I should stop by sometime,” Sukuna said, grinning widely. 

“I don’t,” Megumi hurriedly answered, feeling his cheeks involuntarily burn. 

Sukuna looked pleased. “In that case, I feel blessed. You must break a lot of hearts, Fushiguro Megumi,” he said, drawing out his name in a certain way that made Megumi nervous. What were all these conclusions Sukuna jumped to?

“You didn’t answer my question.” 

“Why do you assume I do more than this?” Sukuna asked. 

Megumi crossed his arms. He thought of Yuuji’s concern for him doing anything illegal. 

“You’re deceiving. You smooth talk people, meanwhile keeping all your own secrets under lock and key,” Megumi said, feeling brave. Perhaps it was the shot. It also didn’t help that Megumi kept sipping the cocktail like water after running a marathon.

Sukuna noticed, eyes resting at Megumi’s mouth every time he brought the straw to his lips. 

“Hm. Perceptive. I suppose that’s to be expected from a student in the top of his class,” Sukuna said. 

There it was again, the smooth-talking. They shared a look, and Sukuna started chuckling. It was different from before, and it caught Megumi so off-guard he ended up smiling too.

When he realized, he tried to compose himself. What was he doing, getting to know Yuuji’s brother like this? 

“You seem secretive yourself,” Sukuna said, leaning forward. Being directly in front of him, Megumi didn’t have much of a choice than to look at him. 

“I must admit, I’m curious about the thoughts swimming around in that pretty head of yours.”

I’m even more curious about yours, Megumi wanted to say. But he did not, and before he knew it, Sukuna was already leaving. 

“Enjoy your night, Fushiguro Megumi. Drinks are on the house,” he said, nodding to the other bartender. 

Megumi was about to say something, anything, but he didn’t know what. And for what reason? 

His restlessness had calmed down, he hadn’t thought about crushing thoughts like loneliness or anything at all during their conversation. Sukuna had filled the void, at least for a little while, and then he dipped. 

What did he expect? Megumi hadn’t been able to really understand the situation. He, by chance, got Sukuna’s invitation, and they spent nothing more than half an hour chatting by the bar. 

He was in a place that wasn’t meant for him, drinking booze that definitely wasn’t good for him, and he had a casual, nearly flirty conversation with a man that most certainly was bad news. It was idiotic to even feel an ounce of bitterness for being left alone so suddenly. He tried to listen to the music and to the chatter of the people around him, but he still felt detached. 

His self-awareness always ruined it.

There weren’t many tools Megumi could use, physical or mental ones, to get rid of it, or at least turn the switch off for a while. Alcohol, however, came close. So Megumi ordered another drink. After all, it was on the house, and he wasn’t about to let that opportunity pass. 

Saturday night was always packed. Scratch that, every single day, even weekdays, the club was packed. People simply went nuts over the mere thought of partying with the most filthy rich and famous people Tokyo had to offer. Sukuna never saw the appeal. Perhaps it was because he was one of those filthy rich people himself, and most of the people he surrounded himself with, were scum. 

Perhaps a few had an ounce of crazy in them, but the rest were mostly boring and stuck-up. But, their purpose made him richer, so yes, he’d indulge them if it pleased him. 

Sometimes it could even be glorious, like when a group of young women with short dresses and plunging necklines who probably had a pocket-full of sugar daddies each would try to get friendly with him. 

That he didn't mind. But when they tried using Sukuna as a springboard or ladder to success and fame… It quickly got boring. He understood biology and he understood desire and lust. It was simply human nature. Attraction, pheromones, magnetism… Sukuna was a great believer of such things.

Sukuna did not let himself be ruled by anything or anyone, except for desire. He was his own master, but he was also passionate. Sometimes, that bit him in the ass. Like the time this seemingly sweet peach of a woman slept with him, only for Sukuna to wake up in an empty bed and a picture of the woman posing in front of Sukuna’s half-naked sleeping body going viral on Twitter. 

Frankly it pissed him off, because it made him feel dumb. The bitch gained thousands of followers simply because she bragged about sleeping with him. 

What calmed him down was the thought of the power Sukuna held. If he wanted to, he could’ve punished her. He could’ve humiliated her, robbed her, beaten her up, he could’ve even gone as far as to simply… Remove her. The roots Sukuna had in the city ran deep and stretched far, even through all of Japan and across the ocean. He was an influential man, and most were not even aware of his true power. 

So, Sukuna decided that the woman was way beneath him. If he ever changed his mind, he could always do something about it. Besides, she wasn’t even that great of a fuck. She acted like a fucking pornstar who got paid by the amount of moans she could make. 

Sukuna’s sexual desire was unquenchable, so if he wanted sex, he got sex. However, in the later years as his name became familiar in the public, he realized something that made life far more interesting. The most enjoyable things in life were the things he could not get. 

Perhaps that's why Kiyotaka’s student caught his eye. Sure, he was attractive. Pretty green eyes. Soft, healthy hair. Dark, thick lashes that could make any woman jealous. Lean build. A perfect, tight ass that Sukuna could not help but stare down when Megumi turned around as he left their table at the restaurant. 

He seemed like a responsible student, proper and polite. Honestly, if Sukuna did not see past surface levels, he wouldn’t even be interested in the boy, because proper, polite people bored him immensely. 

But there was something about the look in his eyes. He was the quiet type, but his eyes spoke volumes. He could tell, just from their conversation by the bar. The guy was perceptive, and somehow he seemed clueless at the same time. Did he even understand why pigs like the one back at the restaurant wanted to get in his pants? 

Sukuna smiled to himself. Megumi didn’t give anyone the time of day. 

He was a challenge, and Sukuna desired to overcome it. 

“Choso. Take this,” Sukuna said as he threw a bag of cocaine into Choso’s lap that had currently been occupied by a stripper. They were hanging out in the VIP-room, which was pretty empty at the moment per Sukuna’s request. 

Choso looked at the bag. 

“You want me to snort all of it?” 

Sukuna chuckled. “Why not. See what happens.”

Choso’s eyes lit up in panic, and it was almost thrilling to see. 

“No, I want you to pass it out to those I let into the lounge tonight. There’s a lot of new faces here tonight, so I’m thinking we can make them regulars. Give them something to come back for.” 

Choso nodded. “Sure, boss. Is it smart though? There has already been a few close calls with the police-” 

Sukuna rolled his eyes. “The police can’t touch me.” 

“Careful. Thinking like that is exactly what gets you caught.” Suguru Geto comes marching in, like he owns the place. Well, he did own a tiny share. Surprisingly, Sukuna and Suguru owned several businesses together. 

They could be ruthless businessmen if they wanted to, and so, they joined arms. Several shops, several restaurants, and more recently, the museum, were all owned by Sukuna and Suguru. On top of that Suguru owned several businesses outside of Tokyo that were very successful.  

Sukuna’s big breakthrough was of course The Domain. It was what had made him known in Tokyo, and through it, he had made some precious partnerships. Partnerships that seemed purely legal on the surface, but as all good things, there are deeper and darker things going on underneath. 

“Anyone specific in mind? The kid you made a drink for? You haven’t been behind the bar for years, I was surprised,” Choso said. 

“I was feeling generous... Don’t pass it to him.” 

A part of him was curious to see Megumi react to it. A sick part of him wanted to drug Megumi himself, and see what happened. 

But drugs were just a cheap way to get under someone’s skin. Sukuna was above that shit. He could make anyone act up by simply being himself, that was enough. Those who roofied and drugged girls honestly disgusted him. They were so weak, relying on chemicals to make someone sleep with them. 

God, if Sukuna ever stooped down to their level, it would announce the death of Sukuna as himself. 

Neither Choso or Suguru questioned his decision. 

Soon, the VIP-lounge was starting to fill up with fresh faces, some already looking drunk and high off their minds. If Sukuna squinted, they resembled sheep. Drowsy and slow with empty stares, simply following the rest of the herd. 

They bored him, so Sukuna got up. 

He set his goal on the most interesting person he had interacted with that night. Hopefully Megumi had not left yet. 

As Sukuna exited the lounge, and skimmed the crowds still gathered in the main room, he was surprised to find Megumi on the dance floor.

There was sweat on his forehead, his cheeks were flushed red, and his tight shirt was riding up with his movements as he danced to the song playing. Sukuna took a deep, steadying breath. 

Christ, just the sight of him… Sukuna had already decided the prize was better when you worked harder for it, but damn, he wanted to jump his bones then and there. 

And he was not the only one. 

There was one guy in particular getting way too close. Sukuna immediately felt his mind be clouded with that same, all-consuming rage he felt when he saw the pig back at the restaurant grabbing Megumi’s arm. 

Sukuna had blamed it on being a possessive and jealous type. But truth to be told, Sukuna rarely met people who made him possessive and jealous in the first place. 

Megumi was obviously drunk, and barely noticed the man behind him, who started grinding into him. Sukuna felt his fingers curl into a fist, nails digging into the skin of his palm. He walked towards the dance floor. The guy was much less inebriated than Megumi, and noticed Sukuna before Megumi did. 

He looked confused, and then Sukuna yanked him away and grabbed him by the balls roughly without a second thought. He leaned closer, and whispered into his ear.

“Get your filthy dick off of him, Or I’ll break your neck.” 

His sharp grip tightened, and the guy whimpered. 

“And destroy your balls,” Sukuna added. 

The threat worked like a charm. The guy scrammed, whimpering like a fool and stumbling across the floor. Sukuna waved over one of the security guards, and told him to get him blacklisted from the club. 

Megumi, even while drunk, tried to compose himself and looked at Sukuna with a worried expression. 

“What happened?” he asked. 

Sukuna smiled. “Nothing you need to worry about. Having fun?” 

Megumi smiled and nodded, still dancing to the beat. Up close, he looked even better. Sukuna could see lean muscles underneath his shirt, shiny and damp from the dancing. If he lacked any kind of self-control he’d be on his knees licking at his abs like a damn dog. 

He got dizzy from the thought. It had been a long, long time since anyone made him feel desperate.

Sukuna grabbed Megumi’s arm, and leaned closer. 

“Follow me,” he said. Megumi didn’t question him, and simply let himself be lead towards the VIP lounge.

People were already snorting lines from the tables. Suguru was leaning towards the wall, glancing at Sukuna entering with Megumi in tow. 

As Megumi got out of the dancing haze, Sukuna started feeling resistance, and Megumi stopped. 

“W-Wait…” 

He looked around himself, taking in the environment. 

“This isn’t… I don’t wanna-” 

Sukuna rubbed at Megumi’s arm soothingly. “Relax. I’m not gonna force you to do any drugs. Unless you want to of course, then I’m your man.” 

Sukuna kept walking, and Megumi didn’t resist. In the innermost corner of the lounge, Sukuna had his own little area that was off-limits to even VIP-guests unless he brought them. 

It was far enough away from the others to give a little bit of privacy, but also raised on a dais that gave them a good view of the other tables. That way, Sukuna could easily monitor any and all activities in the longue. 

As Sukuna and Megumi had sat down, a waitress immediately came over with some drinks.

This time, Megumi had gotten a mojito. 

“Oh um, I’d like to tip,” Megumi said, fishing for his wallet. 

With a smile, Sukuna put his hand on his shoulder. “No need. My waiters are paid quite well,” he reassured. The waitress nodded eagerly and left. 

Megumi looked dumbfounded, and Sukuna tilted his head. 

“What? Doesn’t The Shadow Garden pay their waiters well?”

“It’s good pay. I’ve been paid worse. But I rely a lot on customers tipping,” he said, sipping his drink. 

Sukuna hummed. “You could work for me, if you want to. I can personally ensure a much better pay than you’re used to. It would be more relaxed, nothing like the stress in the restaurant…”

And of course, Sukuna would have complete control over anyone trying to put their hands on him. 

He could see that Megumi seriously thought about the offer. 

“Mm… I don’t know. A club really isn’t my scene,” Megumi said. 

“Really? You showed up tonight, though. You certainly look like you belong.” 

Megumi blushed. “I was bored. So I just… Wanted to try it out.” 

“I hope it’s to your liking,” Sukuna said, scooting a little bit closer to him, throwing his arm over Megumi’s seat. 

Megumi seemed to notice, and tried to avoid leaning back. Amusing, Sukuna thought. 

“It’s a nice club,” he said, but then he glanced at the tables in the lounge. “But… I dunno if I can get behind this kind of stuff. Does Yuuji know?” 

Sukuna couldn’t help but feel his stomach sting at the mention of his brother. The less than legal stuff Sukuna was doing, was the main reason to why he had become estranged with his family. He didn’t want them involved. 

“No. Are you gonna tell him?” Sukuna asked, staring at Megumi intensely. 

Megumi squirmed under his gaze, and instinctively moved further away until he brushed against Sukuna’s hand, trapping him there. 

“... No. But… He’s my best friend. He deserves the truth.”

Sukuna sighed. “Yuuji is the good son. With good grades, good friends, and a bright, spotless future. Me? I’m a lost cause. I’m not gonna drag him down with me.”

Megumi frowned. “Why? You’re so successful. Are- Are you in trouble?” 

The worry Megumi showed was almost enough to melt Sukuna’s icy heart. He brushed against Megumi’s neck with his finger, slowly and sensually playing with his soft hair. 

A dark blush creeped across Megumi’s cheeks. 

“Oh, sweetheart. I don’t get into trouble. I cause it.”

He felt Megumi’s skin rise underneath his fingers, peach fuzz standing up. He was looking up at him with wide, green eyes, the whites of his eyes slightly red from the drinking and dancing. His mouth was slightly agape, and his lips were shiny and pink from the mojito, looking oh so fucking kissable. 

God, what would his lips look like, wet from Sukuna’s spit or….

Sukuna felt blood rush to his groin. 

The fact that Megumi looked threatened, a little scared even, made him even more worked up. 

“Cause it… Like, the drugs?”

Megumi probably wished it was just drugs. Sukuna almost felt bad having to disappoint him. Then again, he also fucking loved it. 

“No. This-” Sukuna gestured to the tables of people snorting lines and tripping out. 

“This is nothing compared to… other things.” 

It was clear Megumi was scared. But he was also curious. And he had not tried to flee, not yet. Would Sukuna hold him back if he tried? If his natural instincts got too out of hand… Sukuna could end up doing something very bad. 

Megumi seemed to catch on. It was like he immediately sobered up, realizing the deep waters he could potentially end up in. 

“Am I… Am I in danger?” 

Sukuna laid a hand on Megumi’s thigh, daringly sliding it up. Megumi’s breath hitched, and he froze underneath his touch. 

He had no idea how difficult he was making it for Sukuna to stay in control. 

“No, sweetheart. Do you think I would hurt you?” 

Megumi didn’t say anything, but reluctantly shook his head. 

Even Sukuna doubted himself. Megumi was too beautiful and too tempting. Sukuna was his own master; yet he found himself under the influence of something more powerful than drugs. If he wasn’t careful…

Trying to reign himself back in, he removed his hand from Megumi’s thigh. Instead, he reached for his hand, and started rolling up Megumi's sleeve. He had a slight suspicion of what he would find, and unfortunately he had been right. The arm was bruised, in the shape of fingers. Seeing the bruise, Sukuna regretted not finishing the job in the restaurant. He could've killed the creep and would not have felt any remorse. But then... 

He met Megumi's eyes. In that moment, they were hard to read. Megumi probably felt conflicted about the situation... But Megumi seemed like too good of a person to be okay with Sukuna's criminal actions. 

Sukuna got up from the couch. Still holding Megumi's hand, he helped him up and let him lean on him for balance.  

“I’ll arrange for a car to drive you home. You’ve partied hard tonight. Best for the star-student to get himself some rest, right?” 

Megumi nodded in a daze. His cheeks were still red. Hopefully it meant Sukuna wasn’t the only one feeling the tension between them. 

If not, then Sukuna had probably scared him off for good. 

The thought of ruining any potential relations between them, made him nearly go mad.